Shuttle to Larkspur ferry debuts, fails to attract crowd

Golden Gate Transit's "The Wave" — a free shuttle from the Ross Valley to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal — didn't create much of a splash during its Tuesday morning debut.

About a dozen passengers were spread over five trips, and the first three runs had a grand total of one passenger. The biggest haul was the last trip, which had eight people on board.

"It's a work in progress," said Mary Currie, spokeswoman for the Golden Gate Bridge District, which operates the service. "We are bringing back the shuttles after they were eliminated a few years back, so it will take some time to build some ridership."

The shuttle has five runs between 6:35 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. from downtown Fairfax. The shuttle returns to Fairfax from the Larkspur Terminal for the afternoon commute. Six trips are scheduled for between 4:05 p.m. and 6:55 p.m.

"I thought I'd take it, why not," said commuter Debbie Orgel, who had planned to take a bus to work in San Francisco when she saw the shuttle. "I'm glad it's back. It's another option for us in Marin. I hope it continues."

The Wave — designated as Route 25 — is free for Larkspur ferry customers. All other passengers are subject to local fares. The shuttle is a pilot project and will last through June 2014, when it will be assessed.

While prior shuttle service never caught on, ferry riders are likely to have an incentive to ride the shuttles in early 2014. That's when ferry officials are planning to begin charging between $2 and $5 to park at the terminal. Public hearings on the plan will be held later this year.

"If we do develop a fee it will likely make the free shuttle more attractive," Currie said. "But so far the handful who have come in are glad that it is here. The service will grow."